THE ROBBER AT WORK 91 



but the parent birds fled too, — and in all 

 probability Autolycus had, even before Hen- 

 drick found me, returned to the nest with 

 nefarious intent. There was decidedly 

 danger, for the birds, having fled after being 

 disturbed, would not return before night. 

 Well, — I determined to call on that jackal 

 and, if possible, add him to the category of 

 the righteous of his species. 



We soon found the nest. Yes, as I ex- 

 pected, the robber had been at work. He 

 must, in fact, have retired and concealed 

 himself when he saw us approaching, for the 

 evidences of his crime were quite fresh. No 

 doubt he was peering at us from some cover 

 close at hand while we were examining the 

 results of his turpitude. Two eggs had been 

 broken; their freshly-spilt contents were soak- 

 ing into the sand. 



We circled round, seeking for Autolycus' 

 spoor. How I wished I had brought a shot- 

 gun instead of a rifle. Ha ! there was the 

 thief; he sprang from the shadow of a large 

 tussock and ran diagonally away, his brush 

 pointed contemptuously straight at us. What 

 was his objective? I saw it — a heap of ejected 

 sand about two hundred yards off, which he 

 was heading straight for, evidently masked his 



